| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
The physical and social environments of small rural nursing homes
— assessing supportiveness for residents with dementia | | Author(s) | Debra G Morgan, Karen M Semchuk, Norma J Stewart |
| Journal title | Canadian Journal on Aging, vol 22, no 3, Fall 2003 |
| Pages | pp 283-296 |
| Source | http://www.utpjournals.com |
| Keywords | Dementia ; Residents [care homes] ; Needs [elderly] ; Nursing homes ; Rural areas ; Evaluation ; Canada. |
| Annotation | The physical and social environments are recognised as important therapeutic tools in the care of nursing home residents with dementia, yet little is known about the environments of rural nursing homes. This study was conducted in one rural health authority in Saskatchewan. Long-term institutional care was provided in 7 small (15-35 beds), publicly-funded nursing homes, none of which had separate dementia special care units (SCUs). The Physical Environmental Assessment Protocol (PEAP) was used to evaluate the facilities on nine key dimensions of dementia care environments. Facilities were most supportive in provision of privacy and least supportive on maximising awareness and orientation. Focus groups were conducted with registered nurses, nursing aides, and activity workers. Staff caregivers identified 6 special needs of residents with dementia that were difficult to meet in the nursing homes, two of which were related to the physical environment (safety and a calm, quiet environment) and four of which related to the social environment (meaningful activity and one-to-one contact, opportunity to use remaining abilities, flexible policy, and knowledgeable caregivers who enjoy working with people with dementia). Staff suggested separate dementia SCUs as one approach to managing dementia care, but also identified challenges in creating dementia units in small rural facilities. Results provide support for conceptual models of dementia care settings that emphasise the interaction of organisational social and physical factors. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-051010205 A |
| Classmark | EA: KX: IK: LHB: RL: 4C: 7S |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|